SA accused pleads guilty to murder

A man accused of murdering his estranged wife before hundreds of people has pleaded guilty midway through his trial.

Zialloh Abrahimzadeh, 57, was on trial for stabbing his wife Zahra to death in front of 300 people at a Persian community function at the Adelaide Convention Centre in March 2010.

He earlier admitted stabbing her, but said he did not mean to and it was not his fault, pleading not guilty to the murder charge.

He told the South Australian Supreme Court that he could not remember stabbing her eight times in the back because he was in the grip of a nightmare fantasy at the time, brought on by stress and rejection.

But during cross-examination on Monday, the jury was told Abrahimzadeh wanted to enter his plea again.

He then pleaded guilty to murder, Adelaide Now reported.

Justice John Sulan discharged the jury and remanded Abrahimzadeh in custody for sentencing.

He faces a mandatory term of life in prison. Justice Sulan will hear submissions before setting his non-parole period.